Hope electric



(No Model.)

A. WRIGHT; ELECTRIC SWITCH.

No. 496,808. v Patented May 2, 1893,. ra -.1. 7 Fi -.2.

WITNESSES. .Z'NYEN'Z'UE.

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UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

AUGUSTUS WVRIGHT, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE HOPEELECTRIC APPLIANCE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 496,808, dated May 2,1893.

Application filed November 9, 1892. Serial No. 451.445. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS WRIGHT, of

. the city of Providence, in thecounty of Providence and State of RhodeIsland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ElectricSwitches; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andexact description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanyingdrawing's, formingpart of this specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in electric-switchesadaptedto make or break both sides of an electric-circuit.

The object of this invention is to produce a switch having an actuatingmechanism which will rapidly operate the switching-arms to open or closethe circuit.

The further object of the invention is to produce a contact-plate forelectric-switches which, when inserted in the slots of the contact-posts, will secure a more intimate contact therewith than hasheretofore been possible.

The invention consists in the peculiar construction of thecontact-plates and their combination with the pivoted-arms of theswitch.

The invention further consists in the peculiar construction andarrangement of the switch-actuating mechanism.

Figure 1 represents a front view of aswitchbox showing my improvementsapplied thereto. Fig. 2 represents a side view of the same to moreclearly show the actuating mechanism. Fig. 3 represents a similar view,the side of the box carrying the actuating-mechanism being removed.

Similar numbers of reference designate corresponding parts throughout.

In the drawings 5 indicates a base generv ally of insulating material.

6 and 7 are contact-posts which are connected in a loop to the main-linewires, 8 and 9 being similar posts placed in lines with thethese armsare secured the trough-like connecting-plates 1S and 19 by means of thepivots 20 and 21, the pivots 21 passing throughshortslots 22 in thesides of the plates 18 and 19 to allow these plates to move slightly onthe pivots 20 and adjust themselves to the variations in thecontactposts. formed in part with, the shaft 14 is the arm 23 by whichthe shaft may be rotated.

The pivoted-lever 24., has a stud 25 and a guide-slot 26, and in thisslot is movable the block 27 connected by a spring 28 with the tends todraw the block. This block is pivotally secured to the arm 23 by thelink 29,

which, while the lever 24 is approaching the line of the arm, exertsanoutward or upward pressure on the block 27 to force the same along theslot 26 and to elongate the spring. When the line of the arm 23 has beenpassed by the lever 24, the action of the spring tends to drawthe blockdownward toward the stud 25 and the link 29 exerts a sudden pressure onthe end of the arm 23 to throw the same and partially rotate the shaft14 in either direction. The lever 24 may be pivoted at the upper endinstead of at the lower end and, when desired, the stops 303O may beused for breaking the joint between the arm 23 and the link 29. By theuse of this actuating-mechanism it will be seen that when the lever 24has passed the central line of the arm 23 in either direction this armwill be thrown and the shaft 14 partially rotated without reference tothe movement of the lever and more rapidly than the same, thus avoidingthe drawing of arcs between the connecting-plates and the contact-posts.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. In an electric switch having contact posts, andarms carried by a rotatable shaft for connecting the same in pairs, thecombination with the rotatable shaft carrying said arms, of an armextending at right angles from the shaft, a link pivoted to said arm andmeans for depressing the free end of the link.

2. In an electric switch having contact posts and arms carried byarotatable shaft for con- Secured to, or

mg contact-posts 6, 7, 8, and 9, a rotatable shaft having arms forconnecting the posts in pairs, and the arm 23 extending at right anglesfrom said shaft, of the lever 24 pivoted below the shaft and having thestud 25 and slot 26, a block 27 movable in the slot, the

spring 28 connecting this block With the stud I5 25, and the link 29connecting the block 26 with the arm 23, as and for the purposedescribed.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

AUGUSTUS WRIGHT. Witnesses:

HENRY J. MILLER, M. F. BLIGH.

